Solid-state imaging device, driving control method, and imaging apparatus

1. A solid-state imaging device which performs AD conversion for one or more analog pixel signals output from corresponding floating diffusion elements of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, the solid-state imaging device comprising: reference signal generating means, and comparing means of a first column, at least one pixel signal accumulating means configured to provide a pixel signal supplied from a first pixel via a first column pixel signal line, the reference signal generating means being configured to generate a reference signal ramp waveform, and the comparing means of the first column being configured to output a signal when the comparing means determines that there is a predetermined relationship between the pixel signal and the reference signal; switching means for connecting a pixel signal line of a second pixel from a second column of pixels in order to selectively provide a combined signal of the first and second pixels from corresponding first and second columns of pixels to the comparing means of the first column, and further wherein the pixel signals from the second column may also be compared via a comparing means for the second column of pixels.

2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein: when connection of the second pixel signal is made to the comparing means of the first column, an operation of an AD conversion means for the second column is stopped.

3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein an addition ratio of pixel signals for the first and second pixels is used to determine a capacitance ratio for individual capacitors that respectively receive the first and second pixel signals and provide the pixel signals to the comparing means.

4. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a combined capacitance for a plurality of pixel signal accumulating means is substantially equal to a capacitance of a capacitor that receives the reference signal at the input to the comparator.

5. A method for driving a solid-state imaging device which includes, a reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal of a ramp waveform, and a comparing means of a first column of pixels for comparing at least one analog pixel signal output from a floating diffusion of a first pixel of the first column of pixels with the reference signal and outputting a signal when the comparing means determines that there is a predetermined relationship between the at least one analog pixel signal and the reference signal, thereby determining a signal level for AD conversion of the at least one analog pixel signal, the driving control method comprising: supplying the first pixel signal from a the first pixel via the first pixel signal line; generating the reference signal; comparing, by the comparing means of the first column of pixels, the first pixel signal with the reference signal, and outputting a signal based on the comparison; selectively connecting a second pixel from a second column of pixels in order to selectively provide a combined signal to the comparing means of the first column of pixels based on the accumulation of signals from floating diffusions of the first and second pixels and accumulating pixel signals from the first and second pixels; and outputting, by the comparing means of the first column of pixels, a signal based on a comparison between the accumulated pixel signals supplied from the first and second pixels and the reference signal and further wherein the pixel signals from the second column of pixels may also be compared via a comparing means for the second column of pixels.

6. An imaging apparatus including a solid-state imaging device which performs an AD conversion for analog pixel signals output from pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, the solid-state imaging device comprising: AD conversion means including, reference signal generating means, and comparing means for a first column of pixels, the comparing means for the first column of pixels being configured to receive a pixel signal supplied from a first pixel via a pixel signal line of the first column of pixels, the reference signal generating means being configured to generate a reference signal of a ramp waveform, and the comparing means of the first column of pixels being configured to output a signal based on a comparison between the pixel signal and the reference signal which identifies a predetermined relationship between the pixel signal and the reference signal; and switching means for selectively connecting a pixel signal line of a second pixel of a second column of pixels in order to selectively provide a combined signal to the comparing means for the first column of pixels based on the accumulation of signals from the first and second pixels and further wherein the pixel signals from the second column of pixels may also be compared via a comparing means for the second column of pixels.

7. A solid-state imaging device which performs an AD conversion for analog pixel signals output from pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, the solid-state imaging device comprising: an AD conversion unit including, a reference signal generating unit, and a comparing unit for a first column of pixels, the comparing unit for the first column of pixels being configured to receive the pixel signal supplied from a first pixel via a first pixel signal line, the reference signal generating unit being configured to generate a reference signal of a ramp waveform, and the comparing unit for the first column of pixels being configured to output a signal based on a comparison between the pixel signal and the reference signal; and a switching unit for connecting a second pixel signal from a second column of pixels to the comparing unit for the first column of pixels in order to selectively provide a combined signal to the comparing unit for the first column of pixels based on the accumulation of signals from the first and second pixels and further wherein the pixel signals from the second column of pixels may also be compared via a comparing means for the second column of pixels.